Kottayam

Kottayam is an important commercial center of Kerala in Southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kottayam District. Kottayam became the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy in 1989. Kottayam is the first town in India selected by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI to be transformed as an Eco City.

Demographics
Population as per 2001 census was 2,398,285.

Climate in Kottayam
The climate of Kottayam can be considered as an equatorial type of climate. It is hot and humid. From June to September, it experiences rains brought by the monsoon clouds. However from September to March, the climate remains relatively dry and cool and it is the best period to visit the city. The highest recorded temperature so far is 38.5 degree celcius and the lowest being 16 degree celcius.

How to visit Kottayam?

• Air : The nearest airport is at Cochin located 76 km from Kottayam.
  
  
• Road : Kottayam is connected to major cities of South India by good motorable roads. Transport Bus services starts from K.S.R.T.C Bus stand Kottayam.
  
  
• Rail : Trains to various places are accessible from Kottayam Railway Station. The railway station is situated just 2 km away from the central bus station.

Important Tourist Destinations in Kottayam

Pathiramanal	Vaikom	Mannanam
Sabarimala	Vembanad Lake	Periyar Tiger Reserve
Ettumanoor	Kotayam Backwaters	Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Education in Kottayam
Kottayam is a major center of education. Kottayam is the first town in India to achieve 100% literacy. Old Seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Church situated in Chungam, Kottayam is the first institution to start English education in South India. The first college in the State (C.M.S College) was started at Kottayam in 1840. One of the six universities in Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, is located here. Other prominent educational institutions include Baselius College, B.C.M College and K.E College, Medical College, Kottayam, School of Indian Legal Thoughts, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, The Technical Higher Secondary School and College of Applied Science.


Economy of Kottayam

• Kottayam is an important commercial centre of Kerala, India.
• There are large plantations of rubber, tea, coffee and pepper in the district.
• Most of India's natural rubber originates from the acres of well-kept plantations of Kottayam.
• It is the home to the Rubber Board, one of the country's primary commodities board.
• Travancore Cements Limited is the major state public sector undertaking in the district which manufactures white cement.
• The first printing press in Kerala (C.M.S Press) was established here in 1821.
• The biggest selling news papers in Malayalam including Malayala Manorama, Deepika, Mathrubhumi, Desabhimani and Mangalam are based in Kottayam. Malayala Manorama is one of the largest selling newspapers in India.

Major Industries in Kottayam

Publishing Industry Rubber Industry Coir Industry Packing Cases

Splints and Veneers Furniture Plastic Industries Plywood